Goat Patrol to the rescue in Hillsborough

A Durham business is stepping in to help rid the Town of Hillsborough of its ivy problem.

The Goat Patrol is an environmentally sustainable landscape management business.

The Hillsborough Tree Board will use the goats to try and rid the Town Hall property of English Ivy. Goats will begin grazing the property on February 2, weather permitting.

The herd will be kept in the desired area using a 12-volt electric fence.

English ivy, a groundcover, was planted extensively on the Town Hall property before its negative impacts were known. Now, it is invading woodlands. English ivy chokes out native vegetation and climbs trees, effectively strangling trees by reducing water and nutrient transport within a tree.

The best way to deal with the vines is to cut them off at ground level and to let them die and fall off the trees.

Removing all the vines from a tree is labor intensive and not cost-effective. The use of goats is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to reduce the vine problem and to save on human labor costs.